Sometimes things get a little fuzzy after spending an evening in the pub. Here’s what you might have missed while you were drinking.

The Padres (51-53) scored more runs than the Miami Marlins (42-62), 5-3, at Marlins Park.

Odrisamer Despaigne (5-7, 4.75) pitched six innings, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk with five strikeouts. The Marlins got on the board in the fifth inning on pinch-hitter Donovan Solano‘s RBI single and an RBI single by Dee Gordon. In the seventh inning, Justin Bour ground into a fielder’s choice and Derek Dietrich scored the Marlins’ final run.

Jose Urena (1-5, 4.37) gave up all five Padres’ runs (four earned) in five innings pitched on eight hits and no walks with two strikeouts. A Justin Upton sacrifice fly in the first inning to score Yangervis Solarte opened the gates. The Friars added four more in the third inning on a Solarte RBI triple, a Matt Kemp sacrifice fly, and a two-run double with an error triple by Derek Norris.

Sometimes things get a little fuzzy after spending an evening at the Tilted Kilt Downtown for the Fox Sports San Diego viewing party, sponsored in part by Montalvo Tequila, who kept handing out free shots of their product. Here’s what you might have missed while I was — I mean — you were drinking.

The Padres (50-53) scored more runs than the Miami Marlins (42-61), 8-3 in 11 innings, in the first of three games at Marlins Park.

Ian Kennedy (6-9, 4.44) pitched seven innings and allowed just two runs on four hits and two walk with five strikeouts, but did not get the win. Craig Kimbrel blew the save with two outs in the ninth inning by giving up a solo home run to Derek Dietrich to tie the game up at 3. Kennedy’s two runs came on a two-run home run by Christian Yelich in the first inning. Kennedy was originally scratched to allow him to fly back to San Diego to witness the birth of his new daughter, but weather forced him to cancel those plans and he came back to start the game.

Flash forward to the eleventh inning, when back-to-back bases-loaded walks to Alonso and Norris scored two runs. A single from Gyorko scored Justin Upton and Alonso. Will Venable then singled to bring Norris across the plate again.

Ahh, baseball’s weird. A.J. Preller and the Padres treated the offseason like that trade-happy guy in your fantasy league when everyone expected them to be quiet. Now, with the baseball world anticipating another run of trades, the Padres responded by sending Abraham Almonte to Cleveland for Marc Rzepczynski. They stood pat, basically.

I’ve tried to write about this a few times and I really don’t know what to say. If the Padres really think they are contenders this season, that’s a little scary. Baseball Prospectus has their playoff odds at three percent. They have to make up six or seven games on teams like the Pirates, Giants, and Mets, a proposition made tougher because each of those teams projects to be significantly better than the Padres going forward.

Of course, there’s a chance the Padres really do contend down the stretch. The schedule’s not too bad, a few players should improve, and heck, anything can happen. Baseball’s weird, remember. But fans are supposed to be the ones with unrealistic dreams about miracle pennant runs. At some point, a front office is expected to sit down, evaluate what it has, and move forward in a direction best suited for the franchise’s long-term success.

This afternoon, after the trade deadline passed with the Padres making just one small move, trading OF Abraham Almonte to Cleveland for LHP Marc Rzepczynski, Padres GM AJ Preller was not made immediately available to the media, let alone me, not the media whatsoever. However, I decided to interview him anyway.

The following is the full transcript of the interview that did not occur this afternoon between myself and AJ Preller. I repeat, these are not quotes from AJ Preller.

VM Nate: AJ, this is Nathan from The Vocal Minority, what’s going on man?

VMN: Yeah, never got to meet him though. Anyway, so the trade deadline just finished up, and you guys were the talk of baseball leading up to it. Then, as the deadline passed, you guys didn’t really do anything. What happened? Read More…

Why Discriminate (Our Game) – Speaking of Thorn, here he reproduces an open letter written by African American baseball player Welday Walker in 1888 and published in The Sporting Life advocating for the inclusion of blacks in baseball. And although people of different races were eventually accepted, the struggle continues for those of various sexual orientations. Former A’s pitcher Mike Norris remembers his teammate, the late Glenn Burke, as a man who had few friends in baseball despite possibly inventing (or at least popularizing) the high five.

The major league baseball games that were played while Apollo 11 landed on the moon (The J.G. Preston Experience) – I was 2 ½ months old when this happened, so my memories of that day are fuzzy, to say the least. The Padres were playing in Atlanta, and in the seventh inning the game was halted to honor the astronauts. Fans were asked say a silent prayer, which was then followed by “God Bless America,” when that song still had meaning. More famously, Gaylord Perry hit his first big-league homer in San Francisco, 25 minutes after the landing. Seven years earlier, then-Giants manager Alvin Dark had reportedly said, “We’ll have a man on the moon before he hits a home run.” Or words to that effect, or maybe not. Who cares, it’s a great story. [h/t SABR]

Quick Observations on Austin Hedges’ Defense (Padres Public) – Yeah, Dustin wrote this a while ago, but I was on vacation and am just now reading it. Plus I needed a link that wasn’t about events that happened more than 30 years ago. And it’s a good article. As Dustin notes, although Hedges hasn’t hit much yet, his pitch-framing and throwing ability have been at least as good as advertised.

Robot umpires should be the future of baseball (Vox) – Joseph Stromberg notes that on Tuesday night an Indy league game used a computer system to call balls and strikes. He advocates for the adoption of such technology in MLB, which would unfortunately render the aforementioned Hedges’ pitch-framing skills moot. Personally I’m holding out for robot players, but whatever. As long as we have robot something (maybe not toasters), I’ll be fine. [h/t Gaslamp Ball]

Sometimes things get a little fuzzy after spending your morning drinking coffee and eating Cocoa Puffs before heading to the pub before it opens. And then waiting for the game to resume at lunchtime. And then realizing it’s time to think about dinner after the game finally is done. Oh, and the whole time watching to see if Padres’ GM AJ Preller makes any trades. Here’s a friendly reminder of what you might have missed while you were drinking AFTER doing all of that.

The Padres (49-53) scored more runs than the New York Mets (52-50), 8-7, in the final rain-delayed game of three at Citi Field.

Andrew Cashner (4-10, 4.13) did not get the decision after pitching five and a third innings and allowing all seven Mets’ runs (five earned) on six hits and two walk with three strikeouts. Curtis Granderson hit a three-run home run with one out in the fifth inning. Juan Uribe had a solo home run to lead off the sixth inning.

Jon Niese (5-9, 3.63) also did not figure into the decision after giving up one run in six innings on six hits and a walk with six strikeouts. Matt Kemp drove in Melvin Upton Jr. with no outs in the sixth. Derek Norris hit a grand slam off Hansel Robles with one out in the seventh inning to make the score 7-5.

The ninth inning started with the Padres down by two runs. With two outs, Norris fell behind 0-1 when the game was delayed for 44 minutes. When play resumed, Norris hit a bloop single to right field off Jeurys Familia, followed by Kemp’s single past the shortstop. Justin Upton then sent a ball over the right field fence for a three-run home run to give the Friars the lead.

The rain started back up again, stopping play, and the grounds crew had trouble getting the tarp back out over the infield. Since this was the last game of the season between these two teams they had to finish the ninth inning after a two-hour and 52 minute delay. Craig Kimbrel retired the Mets in order to record his 30th save of 2015.

Tonight at 4:10pm PDT, the Padres start a three game series against the Miami Marlins (42-60) at Marlins Park. Ian Kennedy (6-9, 4.58) is the scheduled starter with David Phelps (4-7, 3.86) scheduled for the Marlins.

Sometimes things get a little fuzzy after spending an evening at the pub. Here’s a friendly reminder of what you might have missed while you were drinking.

The Padres (48-53) scored more runs than the New York Mets (52-49), 7-3, at Citi Field.

Tyson Ross (7-8, 3.38) gave up just one run on two hits and four walks with five strikeouts in five innings. Lucas Duda was the entire Mets’ offense, hitting three solo home runs; the first off Ross to lead off the second inning, the second off Kevin Quackenbush with two outs in the sixth innings, and the last off Marcos Mateo to lead off the ninth inning.

Bartolo Colon (9-10, 4.96) only lasted two and a third innings, surrendering six runs on ten hits and no walks with one strikeout. After surrendering two Padres’ runs in both the first and second innings, back-to-back home runs by Justin Upton and Yonder Alonso to start the third inning — followed by a single from Jedd Gyorko, a line out by Alexi Amarista, and a single by Austin Hedges — ended Colon’s night.

Today’s series finale at Citi Field pits Andrew Cashner (4-10, 3.93) against Jon Niese (5-9, 3.75) at 9:10am PDT for some Breakfasttown baseball.

The highlight of the season is upon us. Sit back, and enjoy A.J. Preller’s cocaine binge. Ramblings:

It’s smart baseball to try and get the best possible package of players in any trade. It’s what I hope Preller and company are doing, not settling for anything. On the other hand, COME ONNNNNNNNNNNN. Toss us a goddamn bone. Give us something, anything to discuss. Listen, I love rumors (Christoph Waltz voice), but the constant frustration of going through seven hours worth of tweets and not a single fucking trade going down is exhausting. I deserve to be rewarded, goddammit, it’s my right as a fan and American.

I realize that shortstop should be priority numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4, but third base is kind of trash too. I put the air in the tires of the Jedd Gyorko bandwagon, but if they could upgrade the infield (regardless of position) I’m all for it.

How fucking deluded is this ownership? Every report regarding the team and the deadline suggests they’re sellers, but they’re still insisting they plan on spending in the offseason because LOOK HOW BIG OUR COCKS GET WITH VIAGRA. They’re handcuffing their general manager with these comments, even if everyone knows it’s bullshit (well, except them). They’ve somehow successfully shifted the media narrative in their favor, making Preller their fall-guy in the process. “Hey, we spent a fuckload of money! LOOK.” They’re as much, if not more, responsible for the hole the team’s in than anybody else.

I’m perfectly fine with keeping Justin Upton for the rest of the season. This team’s going to play itself out of a protected pick anyway (oh, it’s going to fucking happen), so might as well recoup the comp pick and bet on yourself (we’re doomed).

What is with all these teams not wanting to part with prospects for good players. These impostors wall themselves contenders, but they ain’t shit. That goes for Toronto, too. Who cares if you can hit, you still can’t pitch for shit. The Jays need a Big Game Pitcher, preferably with the first name that rhymes with Game so as to make a lazy nickname.

Remember when the Rockies were rebuilding The Right Way? LOL fuck ’em.

Yo release Shawn Kelley immediately.

Matt Kemp’s been really good, so that’s something.

Brandon Maurer for Cy Young.

OK that’s enough Padres. True Detective time!

FINALLY. Listen, I never really cared if True Detective was good or not. That was more of a bonus. Last season was great because of the two leads, but show itself was ehhhhhhhhhh. It’s good, but overrated. Most importantly, though, it was entertaining and hilarious and EXTREME. Nothing was ever out of the realm of possibility with these dudes, and that’s how I felt about Sunday’s episode.

Before we get to Ray’s coke binge, can we talk about the scene with him and his wife’s rapist. Dear God, please give us an episode where Ray gets his hands on this motherfucker. I don’t think Frank set him up, mostly because he’s an incompetent jackass whose tough guy act is weaker than Ron Fowler’s personal mute button (#ShutUpRonFowler). Ray ain’t done killin’ or tweakin’, which gives the show hope.

Yeah, I know there’s only two episodes left. Eat me.

It’s seems very odd to introduce something as significant as Ani being sexually abused as a child so late in the season. There are way too many cooks on this show, and the eight episode season does it no favors. This probably should’ve been touched on at the start of the season. Everything was done way too sloppy and hastily. The show essentially wasted the first half of season on Frank. Ugh.

WHO IS STAN??????

It’s about fucking time the show got the cartel involved. Hat tip, future showrunners and writers: always introduce the cartel sooner rather than later. Shit will always get more interesting. I have no idea what role these fools play in all this, but I can’t wait to find out.

Give Paul Woodrugh a gun and place him in a life threatening situation and he suddenly becomes Captain fucking America. Fuck yeah, Paul.

Remember Birdman? Of course you fucking don’t because this show is terrible. I think I figured out who he is: Ray’s old boss in Vinci, the one who went to his house and basically evicted him. He has access to riot gear, which was what he shot Ray with, and he’s probably on some rich dude’s payroll in charge of collecting dirty tapes, or whatever.

Predictions for the last two episodes: Ani kills her dad who is somehow connected to all this, Ray beats the shit out of at least three more people, Chad realizes that Friends is mostly bullshit after the fourth season.

Here is the entire Jesse Agler and Mike Hess Brewing saga. The 2 parts of the Jesse interview, the Padres Social Hour spoof and then the Mike Hess Brewing interview. Thanks to everyone who participated in this fun event!

We’ve now done 20 episodes of the video series and 30 episodes of the podcast. That’s a lot of beer and baseball chat! Thanks for watching & listening!